Royal Fever

Let’s talk about royal fever – specifically of the British variety. Let’s even begin by digressing slightly. Why are we (collectively as American’s) so obsessed with the British Monarchy? The monarchy has been merely ceremonial for a few hundred years, but still we wait and watch and judge and wish: to see the hats, to curtsey, to try to get a guard to smile. My best guess is that as a European nation it is whom America is closest too. Britain is the divorced Great Uncle to the United States and though we are no longer related we know we have to still support him while he lives.

Speaking of living, NEWSWEEK, has a cover on which they have aged the former Princess Di and placed her “walking” with the current Princess of Wales. I remember Diana’s death; it was after The Notorious B.I.G. and before Mother Teresa’s. One is near saint-hood, the other remains true to his name and Diana is still causing controversy. Why does her death and her sons’ wedding cause so many Americans to stay up late and set TIVO’s? Is it the psychological representation of what can never happen to an American girl? The closest thing America once had to Prince was JFK JR. and I still remember when his plane crashed. Grandma, Aunt Sis and I were garage sale-ing and when they heard we had to rush home and Grandma didn’t move from the TV for days. She kept saying it was just like when his father passed.

I was not yet born for the wedding of Charles and Diana, but upon asking people who were I found that most of them had stayed up to watch. These same people watched her funeral and mourned her as once Americans mourned FDR. Somehow they are a part of the collective us. Of course it helps that the media helps by featuring these weddings and funerals (from JFK through Will and Kate).

I admit watched the Royal Wedding. I judged her dress and the ceremony. I waited for the kiss. I bought the Vanity Fair and Special Edition Times magazine talking about the wedding. I have now bought the controversial cover of Diana and Kate. I wonder if our (my) infatuation will end or deepen as the only monarch several generations have known (Queen Elizabeth II) passes, Charles abdicates (as he will most likely do due to his marriage to Camille and overall disgrace his subjects hold over him), Harry also marries and finally William and Harry continue the Windsor lineage.

Someday I will return to London. I will continue to study the monarchy and hope to get a glimpse of the Queen someday. I will not read an article about reality TV shows or listen to Charlie Sheen rant on you-tube, but I will wish to attend an event that might allow me to cross paths with the eligible Prince Harry and famiy…